What is It - For decades, the French Riviera has had a certain cache as a beach location with fancy yachts where beautiful people from European capitals and American celebrities go to relax or to be seen. The independent principality of Monaco and the French city of Nice are two examples of popular destinations in the region. But the small city of Cannes and its crowded beaches are the most glamourous place for sun worshippers and tourists to visit in the region. 

A significant part of Cannes’ reputation is based on the Cannes Film Festival. Ever since 1946, this annual festival has been held for ten days in May. There are daily premieres of new movies and documentaries held at cinemas all over town featuring red carpet processions by the movie stars and backers of each film. The entire city of 75,000 people becomes consumed by these showings along with the parties held on yachts or at beach clubs and hotels. 

The rest of the year Cannes relies on its beaches, shopping, and restaurants to generate business and attracts tourists. These amenities are outstanding:

Beaches - Many beaches on the Mediterranean lack the beauty of the Caribbean, the South Pacific, or the Greek Isles. The shorelines look like mudflats and the beach is often made up of pebbles. Cannes is distinctive in that it is one of the few areas on the Riviera with sandy beaches, gentle waves, and quality water to bath in. There are a variety of beach locations along the shore, but the beach located along the main street, the Boulevard de la Croisette, is the most popular one particularly for visitors who are interested is spotting celebrities or taking a selfie. 

Croisette Beach includes three dozen private beach clubs. Some are open only to members, but others are open to the public for a daily admission fee of 20 or more Euros per person. The beach clubs usually have their own restaurant and offer a full range of amenities such as lounge chairs, umbrellas, lockers and changing areas. There are two small public beach areas on Croisette Beach known as the Plage de Casino and the Plage Mace. During the film festival, a giant screen is set up on Plage Mace to show selected films to the public. Around the bend from the center of Cannes are several other public beaches such as the Plage du Midi, the Gazagnaire, and Port Canto which are less crowded but also enjoyable. 

Shopping - Shopping is also a popular pastime in Cannes. The streets adjacent to the Boulevard de la Croisette are full of designer shops and boutique stores. Some are quite pricy, but they make for interesting window shopping. One popular stop is the Le March Forville Market which is an indoor marketplace known for its meats, flowers, and local specialties. 

Food – Food is a critical part of the travel experience in France and the restaurants in Cannes are world famous. There are dozens of Michelin starred restaurants in town and even the cafes and bistros located in the beach clubs are excellent. Walk around the town and find a menu that fits your preferences and tastes.

Interesting Facts - The beachfront at Cannes is like a strange combination of New York’s Times Square, Grumman’s Chinese theater in Hollywood, and Venice Beach. Since the area is frequently used as the backdrop for promoting a movie, a product, or a personality, you never know what is going to happen there. 

When to Go – Cannes is laid-back during the wintertime and most beach clubs close in early fall. However, area hotels and the beaches fill up by the beginning of the film festival in May and continue to be crowded until the end of September. For a family stay or a quieter time, visiting during early May, September, and October when temperatures are in the 70s during the day and the high fifties in the evening is worth considering.

How to Get Here -There are usually direct flights to nearby Nice from New York on Delta and Air France has frequent flights to Nice from Paris. Major cruise lines including Crystal, Norwegian, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean have port calls at Cannes although larger ships use tenders to service the port. 

Where to Stay - There are luxury hotels such as the Intercontinental Carlton and Grand Hyatt Martinez located along the Boulevard de la Croisette. There is also a moderately priced Marriott directly across the street from the center of the beach.